Attend a community planning meeting
Attend a community planning meeting with an adult, listen to local ideas, ask questions, take notes, and share one thoughtful suggestion respectfully.
Step-by-step guide to attend a community planning meeting with an adult
Five Important Steps for Community Development Planning.
Step 1
Ask an adult to go with you to the community planning meeting and pick a time to attend together.
Step 2
Write one thoughtful suggestion and three short questions in your notebook.
Step 3
Put your notebook and pencil in your bag and go to the meeting with your adult.
Step 4
Sign in at the meeting table or find a quiet seat when you arrive.
Step 5
Sit quietly and listen while people share their ideas.
Step 6
For each idea you hear, write one short sentence in your notebook.
Step 7
If you do not understand something, raise your hand and ask one question during the question time.
Step 8
When it is your turn, say your name and share your one thoughtful suggestion in one clear sentence.
Step 9
After you speak, thank the group politely.
Step 10
Sit with your adult and look over the notes you wrote.
Step 11
Pick the three most important things you learned from the meeting.
Step 12
Write a short 2-3 sentence summary of the meeting and your suggestion in your notebook.
Step 13
Share your finished creation on DIY.org.
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of a notebook or pencil if I can't find them?
Use a small notepad, a printed one-page note sheet, or your phone/tablet's notes app and put it in your bag so you can write your one thoughtful suggestion and a short sentence for each idea you hear.
What should I do if I get nervous speaking or I don't understand an idea at the meeting?
Practice your one clear-sentence suggestion with your adult and keep it written in your notebook to read when it's your turn, and if you don't understand something, write it down and raise your hand during the question time.
How can I change the activity for younger or older kids?
For younger children, have the adult write the child's suggestion and let the child use drawings or stickers to pick the three most important things, while older kids can take fuller notes, write the 2–3 sentence summary themselves, and add photos or links when sharing on DIY.org.
How can we extend or personalize this community meeting activity after we get home?
Turn your notebook notes into a short illustrated poster or 30–60 second video to upload to DIY.org and send a polite follow-up email to the meeting organizer that includes your one thoughtful suggestion and the three things you learned.
Watch videos on how to attend a community planning meeting with an adult
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Facts about community planning and civic engagement for kids
✍️ Taking notes helps you remember details — public comments from meetings are often used to shape plans.
❓Asking one thoughtful question can reveal a problem officials missed and help improve a project.
🌆 More than half of the world now lives in cities, so local planning affects how millions live and play.
🤝 Small groups of neighbors have started many parks, bike lanes, and libraries — community ideas can become real projects.
🏛️ Town hall meetings date back to colonial America and still let neighbors speak directly to leaders.
How do I prepare my child to attend a community planning meeting and participate?
What materials do I need to bring for a child attending a community planning meeting?
What ages is attending a community planning meeting suitable for?
What are the benefits for children attending community planning meetings?
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